Written By Jock O'Keefe (OX 1959)

Unfamiliar with North Fitzroy, I set out to find the former ground of the Fitzroy Football Club.

No mean feat as I tried to recall the ground where my Dad took me as a ten-year-old, but that was seventy years ago.

Undaunted, I found North Fitzroy and to be more specific, I knew I was on course when a sign welcomed me to Edinburgh Gardens. 

 Once I stepped inside Edinburgh Gardens, I felt different- people smiled, dogs wagged their tails and I felt I was a member of their Community.

All the worries of the world disappeared. Families were enjoying themselves tossing frisbies, chatting, jogging and laughing. Different to the world outside of Edinburgh Gardens.

I found my destination and memories came flooding back to that time with Dad when we witnessed the Dees beat Fitzroy in the VFL. Today, little has changed except to say the surroundings are more gentrified. In its reincarnation the ground is now home of the Fitzroy Amateurs in the VAFA and today playing Old Xavs seniors.

The pitch looked immaculate, and the large crowd took up positions around the boundary, or sitting in the iconic timber grandstand.

As the home team ran onto the ground pre-first bounce of the ball the club theme song played over the PA.  Nice touch.

Then time for the ANZAC remembrance. The President of Fitzroy FC made a brief and poignant speech followed by a faultless rendition by a bugler, no doubt a community minded individual.

At the long break the club seniors read passages from former players who had penned letters from the trenches. Another caring, community thought.

The game was played without incident, no swearing or altercations amongst the crowd. This was community football without the biff and bash.

Xavs won the chocolates and players shook hands.

I strolled home content with my afternoon of mingling with people who respected each other- it's called community. Try it.

Jock O'Keefe